Followers

Friday, December 30, 2011

The International Movement for a Just World (JUST) invites citizens of the world to join a global campaign aimed at averting a colossal catastrophe in West Asia.

The campaign themed, NO TO MILITARY INTERVENTION IN SYRIA; NO TO MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRAN will mobilise signatures from people in every continent to demonstrate to the centres of power in the West and their allies and proxies in West Asia and North Africa (WANA) that any military action by them against Syria and Iran in whatever form or guise is totally unacceptable.

I support you for wanting to field only winnable candidates in the next elections. To me this is a sign that you want to make sure only the best people represent your party, our country.

I wish you would take this effort one step further. Ask Malaysians to only vote the best, even if it means voting against your own candidates if the opposition offers someone better.

This will show you have confidence with your candidates; and at once set a standard and position that all other leaders worthy of their name will need to follow suit, including opposition leaders. It will send a clear sign within your own ranks that you mean business and they must accept your choices.

I understand that weightage should be given to which party a candidate represents. The backing of a good structure, processes and systems can help an MP/ADUN go a long way. However, an excellent candidate without a good party will still be able to serve the rakyat well – with heart and soul, like an excellent teacher in a school without amenities and support. That is why I am suggesting we give foremost consideration to the individual calons.

I thank you for all the effort you have put forth since taking leadership of the country and I have confidence that my suggestion here is in line with People First, Performance Now.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

“It is not their passions I shall appeal to – I ask only for their cool and impartial reason…” – William Wilberforce (1759-1833)

Choose the middle path :Be daring, but don’t be stupid

When we propose to do something, let’s ask how far it is daring, and how far it is stupid. This will take us to the middle path.

While ideals are our compass, our actions need to be guided by pragmatism. We must first choose to be daring enough to do the right thing. But this on its own will not be enough. We must do the right things, the right way – for the right reasons, in the right degree and at the right time. This is true whether in society, in business or in politics.

At work, young people learn that it is good to be daring, but never stupid. To propose new ideas is a bold move, and sometimes it is good to challenge old ways; but to do so without considering your seniors’ feelings and the existing culture, systems and processes, is unwise.

Successful businesses too are defined by the moderate balance between risks which are too high or too low. If we take risks which are too high, it is like gambling; but if we only want to take extremely safe, low risks, we might as well not be in business.

Businesspeople who are successful know how to take calculated risks. They know that they must act on what they can deliver based on the growing readiness of the market. They are aware that building a business is more of a marathon than a hundred meter sprint; carefully pacing themselves gets them further than short bursts of activity that leaves them finished before they reach the finish line.

The same goes with proposals affecting our society. Our vision cannot outpace our ability to take action. And we cannot force an idea into a situation which is not ready to accommodate it.

When we choose our leaders, let’s look for those who are daring, but not foolish. Wise leaders measure their actions. They do what needs to be done, in the right way and at the right time. Those who are daring but stupid, however, charge forward like rebels without a clue, trying to become heroes. Sadly, they end up fighting just to prove a point; and if these become our leaders, like the blind leading the blind they will inspire more daring but foolish actors and actions in our society.

To fight for principles is simple, but it is knowing it in practice which makes the real difference. True progress towards our goals takes time, careful discernment, lots of consideration and compromise. Some daring steps will be needed, but more so, we need to always act wisely. We need to know what to do, when and how to act, and when to stop and wait, for what is best for society.

At zubedy, our programs draw strength from shared values and traditions. We believe that at heart, all Malaysians want good things for themselves and for their brother and sister Malaysians, simply because our nation cannot prosper as a whole if some of us are left behind.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Your country needs you to rise to the occasion. Malaysia needs you to rise above partisan politics. We need you to report directly to the Constitution, to Reason, and to your Conscience.

Let me explain.

Essentially, we no longer have an opposition. A country without an opposition is a country without a mechanism for check and balance. Today, our political actors are divided into two parties, fighting for seats of power. We are moving into a two-party system. While it provides us new opportunities, it also poses new problems.

In a two-party system, too often each side becomes preoccupied attacking the other - trying to make their side look better, and the other look bad. We cannot blame them as it is their modus operandi to get the most votes.

But we can add value and make things better. You can make sure we get the best to represent us.

We are a nation with 30 million rakyat. Are we saying that we cannot find 222 of our best people to represent us in parliament?

We need to send out a clear message to our political leaders. We want to be spoiled for choice. We want them to offer us only the best – the smartest, uncorrupted, hardworking, sound and healthy candidates. We want to be in a situation whereby no matter whom we choose, we win!

Young Malaysians, please do not take the easy way out and just follow this or that political leaning. Shape your own future, use your own judgment, trust your own thoughts, be confident. You have the intelligence, technology and passion to make things right. You must scrutinize every candidate, no matter which party they are from. Ask them questions, check them out, make them listen.

Why?

Because you, and your brother and sister Malaysians, deserve the best. You have the power to make things happen.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

The water tank at my house is clogged. I need a plumber to repair it. There are two plumbers in town. One is from BN, the other from Pakatan. How do I decide which plumber I should engage?. Do I simply engage them on the basis of their party? Of course not.

I will first need to know their track record. So I will ask around. I will ask my neighbours, I will ask my friends, etc to learn about their experience with either plumber. Did they perform well with their previous customers? Can they be trusted?

I will need to know their pricing and after-sales service. Will they come back to service me if their original repair work does not succeed? Can I trust them to charge me a reasonable price and not rip me off?

I will need to know whether they have the necessary skills to repair my water tank. I will ask them how they intend to proceed with the repair. I need to understand and agree to their approach and methods. I want to be sure that while they repair my water tank, they won’t damage my roof.

About Me

Born in Penang, speaks English, Malay, Hokkien & some Tamil. Managing Director and founder of zubedy (m) sdn bhd. Graduated from University Malaya and was in marketing for a multinational before setting up zubedy in 94. www.zubedy.com

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#NoFreeRides

A promise made in 2001

I intend to ADD VALUE to everyone and anything that I come to interact with and make the world a better place.

As this is an unending journey, I will never achieve my dreams … not in their fullest form. They are too far away in the idealistic world... but,

" The quest of truth will set you free, even if you never catch up with it".

I am one of those dreamers who have found a practical formula of living for today (compartmentalization) and try to achieve parts of my dreams a moment at a time, part by part. It is okay to die without achieving all the lofty dreams, as the spirit will be passed on to others, who are dreamers too.

I also plan to be rich, very rich! Not for the money but for the use of money as a platform to help me achieve my ideals. God willing, you will see advertisements in the near future communicating universal values and spirituality by ZUBEDY the Brand. (check out http://www.zubedy.com/) Encourage schools and libraries and sponsor the poor's basic needs of food, shelter and education.

I hope to live to a century or two with healthy living, modern medicine and God's permission. Lead a full life, have many children. But not necessarily sired by me. Travel the world to witness God's creation and be at awe with the creativity that greets us wherever and whenever we turn. I want to smell all the fragrance in the world be it the stink of the squatters in Mumbai or the pleasing scent of devotional flowers at a Balinese lebaran.

And to know that each experience has a purpose which is to ADD VALUE to the living, the dead and the unborn.

Children of Indonesia

Taken on the way to Puncak

Children of Bario

On the way to the only working phone line!

Children of Sabah

On the way to Mersilau

Children of Cambodia

At Angkor Thom

Children of Penang

At Pak Ali's house

Children of the zubedys

my nephews and nieces

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Six

Let us learn about each other's religion, culture and way of life

We know too little about each other’s traditions, way of life and beliefs.

In fact many amongst us may not even know about our own spiritual traditions, scripture and core religious foundation. Most times we delegate our thinking to our religious teachers and later complain about how they go about doing their job.